Hikers were asked to download the app, which gives information about the trail, the flora and fauna and local history. Hikers are able to tackle the popular trail at their own pace or take on a timed challenge.

Melanie Wolczuk and Eric Cranfield were randomly selected to win a Fitbit watch, according to a media release from the city.

Event development supervisor Mariko Siggers says the popularity of the Knox Challenge and Knox Your Socks Off continues to grow and they are starting to see a competitive element emerge.

“People want to see their name at the top of the leaderboards, whether it’s for the fastest time up the trail or the most points for completing all the missions,” she says in the release.

“My family and I hike the Apex Trail often so it was fun to try something new,” Wolczuk says. “We found the app easy to use and just followed the missions all the way to the top of the trail. Seeing a digital grizzly bear as part of the quest was the best. I’ve already recommended Knox Your Sox Off to several people and look forward to trying out the Knox Challenge as well.”

According to the release , Knox Your Sox Off is a set of fun and fact-filled missions where users can learn about the history of Knox Mountain Park, its natural plant and wildlife, and a few augmented reality surprises as well.

“Outdoor activities like this are exactly why I’m moving to Kelowna in the fall,” Cranfield says, “I hadn’t done the Apex Trail before and thought that trying Knox Your Sox Off was a fantastic way to give it a try. The highlight for me was capturing the digital owl on camera and being able to share the photo with friends.”

The Knox Challenge is a timed quest where hikers try to get to the top as quickly as possible. A leaderboard is available for users to compare times with others.

Watch for upcoming on-site Knox Quest promotions and activities at kelowna.ca/activebynature as the City continues to spread the word about the gamification of the Apex Trail.

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